I'm looking to buy a new china phone, last time I bought one solely based on my own opinion. Ended up buying an elephone p10, which was a huge letdown, so now that I need to change phones again I thought I'd ask you guys for some help.
Things I'm looking for:
Stock android ROM, preferably lollipop
Good battery life
A decent backside camera, preferably with flash
Expandable storage or 32 GB internal
Things I would consider a plus:
A rugged phone, I've been looking for one, but all seem to fail at having a good camera.
I usually use my phone for social networks, emails, browsing and watching videos while travelling (ie.: Watching a 2 hour movie on my usual train ride. The P10 could only manage this with minimal backlight or a powerbank, and only when it was new). Occasionally I play hearthstone and some games I picked up in humble bundles, but nothing with intense graphics.
I don't really have a budget yet, but I'm looking to buy something around 200$. I might consider spending more, if it's a rugged phone, that has everything I need.
There aren't many quality, rugged China phones. If you'd consider a non-rugged one, there are many good phones for <$200 with decent cameras and will easily last 4 hours or more screen on time.
Take a look at Ulefone Be Touch, or if you want great battery life, take a look at THL 5000T, but I haven't seen pictures from it's camera. There was a user on here recently saying they really liked the phone (search 5000T).
Also consider Blackview Zeta for like $85 it's an amazing phone. Pictures lower res, but still looking quite good.
Gizbeat has reviewed Ulefone Be Touch and Zeta and has picture samples.
Bummer to hear the Elephone was a let down. I keep hoping for this company to put out some great stuff, but it has yet to deliver.
I second @DirKNirK 's recommendation above to check out the Ulefone Be Touch 2. If I were in the market with that price range, it'd be a top contender.
For another workhorse budget phone like the THL 5000T, scope the Mlais MX Base. Similar market, but with an updated OS. It's presently in pre-sale. I have the super cheap Mlais M52 Red Note. As compared to the Ulefone Be Pro I bought for my dad, the Mlais is more powerful, but does feels to have a lower build quality. By comparison to the Be Touch 2, I'd probably go that route instead.
If you're NOT in the USA, you might scope the iNew L4. Big display, big battery, low price. It unfortunately only has 1GB of RAM and lacks the 1900 MHz 3G band we need here (USA) for reliable 3G coverage.
...though again, if it were me, I'd try to score a deal on the Be Touch 2.
Happy hunting. Let us know if you find any gems!
I personally have the THL 5000T. Great photos, great phone, and I guarantee the battery will last you through the day, but no 1900Mhz. As for rugged, it is relatively tough but MUST be in a case! There are 3 commonly available cases. One is a soft silicone back, the other is a flip case (no storage within the case) with a window and hall switch/monitor, and the last are the many "sticker" type of cases available on Ali. There is one leather custom case with space for $$ and credit cards which is very nice if you decide to go that route.
Now, if what you want is a RUGGED phone, I have heard good things about the NO.1 X-Men X2. Look at the "NO.1 Rugged smartphone big sale on coolicool " link on the right hand side of this website. The price is right and it has the right frequencies. If you hunt around, you will see that a while back I had a few questions about it, most of which were answered to my satisfaction.
Unfortunately, like you, the camera is relatively important. It doesn't have to be AWESOME, but it does have to be good to above average. I've had phones in the past with bad cameras and I refuse to own another one.
I put a question to "coolcool" (no relation, lol) in regards to the camera and antutu score. I might buy one for the heck of it anyways as it's going for $180, has an IP68 rating, larger 5.5" screen with a GREAT battery of 4500mah, which kind of makes it for me. Downside for me is 1GB/8GB, but I would put a 32GB class 10 card in it and root - which solves that little problem for me personally as a trade-off for the super-rugged nature of the device.
Anyways, there is my 2 cents. Good luck and tell us what you decide!
NO.1 X-MEN X2
(2015-07-18, 08:16)edcoolio Wrote: [ -> ]I personally have the THL 5000T. Great photos, great phone, and I guarantee the battery will last you through the day, but no 1900Mhz. As for rugged, it is relatively tough but MUST be in a case! There are 3 commonly available cases. One is a soft silicone back, the other is a flip case (no storage within the case) with a window and hall switch/monitor, and the last are the many "sticker" type of cases available on Ali. There is one leather custom case with space for $$ and credit cards which is very nice if you decide to go that route.
Now, if what you want is a RUGGED phone, I have heard good things about the NO.1 X-Men X2. Look at the "NO.1 Rugged smartphone big sale on coolicool " link on the right hand side of this website. The price is right and it has the right frequencies. If you hunt around, you will see that a while back I had a few questions about it, most of which were answered to my satisfaction.
Unfortunately, like you, the camera is relatively important. It doesn't have to be AWESOME, but it does have to be good to above average. I've had phones in the past with bad cameras and I refuse to own another one.
I put a question to "coolcool" (no relation, lol) in regards to the camera and antutu score. I might buy one for the heck of it anyways as it's going for $180, has an IP68 rating, larger 5.5" screen with a GREAT battery of 4500mah, which kind of makes it for me. Downside for me is 1GB/8GB, but I would put a 32GB class 10 card in it and root - which solves that little problem for me personally as a trade-off for the super-rugged nature of the device.
Anyways, there is my 2 cents. Good luck and tell us what you decide!
NO.1 X-MEN X2
The 5000t has the 1900 frequency or at least I get 3G on T-Mobile USA. The battery life is amazing but I would consider the THL 5000 (the big brother of the T) which has 2gb of ram and I think 32gb rom and matches your requirements more closely. Don't bother with Lollipop unless it's 5.1 and above.
(2015-07-19, 17:37)Twotems Wrote: [ -> ] (2015-07-18, 08:16)edcoolio Wrote: [ -> ]I personally have the THL 5000T. Great photos, great phone, and I guarantee the battery will last you through the day, but no 1900Mhz. As for rugged, it is relatively tough but MUST be in a case! There are 3 commonly available cases. One is a soft silicone back, the other is a flip case (no storage within the case) with a window and hall switch/monitor, and the last are the many "sticker" type of cases available on Ali. There is one leather custom case with space for $$ and credit cards which is very nice if you decide to go that route.
Now, if what you want is a RUGGED phone, I have heard good things about the NO.1 X-Men X2. Look at the "NO.1 Rugged smartphone big sale on coolicool " link on the right hand side of this website. The price is right and it has the right frequencies. If you hunt around, you will see that a while back I had a few questions about it, most of which were answered to my satisfaction.
Unfortunately, like you, the camera is relatively important. It doesn't have to be AWESOME, but it does have to be good to above average. I've had phones in the past with bad cameras and I refuse to own another one.
I put a question to "coolcool" (no relation, lol) in regards to the camera and antutu score. I might buy one for the heck of it anyways as it's going for $180, has an IP68 rating, larger 5.5" screen with a GREAT battery of 4500mah, which kind of makes it for me. Downside for me is 1GB/8GB, but I would put a 32GB class 10 card in it and root - which solves that little problem for me personally as a trade-off for the super-rugged nature of the device.
Anyways, there is my 2 cents. Good luck and tell us what you decide!
NO.1 X-MEN X2
The 5000t has the 1900 frequency or at least I get 3G on T-Mobile USA. The battery life is amazing but I would consider the THL 5000 (the big brother of the T) which has 2gb of ram and I think 32gb rom and matches your requirements more closely. Don't bother with Lollipop unless it's 5.1 and above.
Whoops! My bad. I have a THL 5000, not a 5000T.
Good catch and thank you.